State awards high school money

Tucumcari Public Schools has received $12.9 million from the New Mexico’s Public School Facilities Authority, school officials said.

The money will be enough to complete the second phase of construction on the new Tucumcari High School, Superintendent Aaron McKinney said on Thursday.

McKinney said the school’s local match is $2.3 million, of which $625,075 will be repaid by Dec. 31, 2010. The remainder of the balance will paid by the selling of bonds voters approved last year.

The first phase of the high school’s construction is under way and should be completed by December, officials have said.

Judge: Shooting suspect will face attempted murder charge

The man accused in a June shooting at Tucumcari’s Redwood Lodge will face attempted first-degree murder charges, Quay County Magistrate Judge Joel Garnett has ruled.

Robert W. Wynashe will face five felony charges related to the incident.

Wynashe, 66, is being held on $1 million bond at the Quay County Detention Center. He has pleaded not guilty.

He is charged with shooting Howard Russell King, 45, on June 1, at the Redwood Lodge. King remains hospitalized at an Amarillo hospital. Family members said he is paralyzed.

Mayor's pre-trial conference postponed again

A pre-trial conference regarding animal cruelty charges against Tucumcari Mayor Antonio Apodaca has been postponed again.

The pre-trial was originally scheduled July 15, then rescheduled for next week. Now Prosecutor Orlando Torres has a conflict in another county, resulting in the second postponement.

A new date for the conference has not been set.

Apodaca, 61, is charged with one count of cruelty to animals, alleged to have occurred on April 19, according to court records.

The mayor is accused of dragging a dog alongside his car. His attorney has said he is innocent of the charge.

Cross country meeting Monday

Tucumcari High School’s cross country team will meet at 9 a.m. Monday at the Rattler Gym.
Coaches have asked all Rattlers interested in running this year attend this meeting.